Early Years 1951-1959 [Box set]

Amazon.com essential recording
This four-disc set compiles the seminal bluegrass duo's recordings for King Records--eight years' worth of smooth harmonies, consistently inventive songwriting, and Don Reno's electrifying musicianship on the five-string banjo. The Early Years includes some beautiful gospel numbers from their first King LP, including "The Lord's Last Supper" and the well-known "I'm Using My Bible for a Road Map." Other highlights are classic Reno and Smiley numbers like "I'm the Talk of the Town," "Dixie Breakdown," and "I Know You're Married (But I Love You Still)." A comprehensive document of one of the genre's most influential groups captured at the height of their powers, this album is a must for anyone interested in the formative early years of bluegrass.

Early Years 1951-1959,Reno & Smiley,King,Bluegrass,Country,Folk,Pop,Traditional Bluegrass

Average customer rating: The true pioneers of traditional bluegrass Vintage Bluegrass from a couple of masters. Two Bluegrass Legends at Their Best

Early Years 1951-1959 Reno & Smiley Manufacturer: King ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Traditional | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Folk | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: Good Old Country Ballads ASIN: B0000017BR Release Date: 1996-01-01

Tracks:

1. When I Safely Reach That Other Shore
2. Little Country Preacher
3. Wings Of Faith
4. Jesus Will Save Your Soul
5. The Lord's Last Supper
6. I'm Using My Bible For A Roadmap
7. I Want To Live Like Christ My Savior
8. Let In The Guiding Light
9. There's A Highway To Heaven
10. Some Beautiful Day
11. Jesus Is Standing At My Right Hand
12. Hear Jerusalem Mourn
13. A Pretty Wreath For Mother's Grave
14. A Rose On God's Shore
15. There's Another Baby Waiting For Me Down The Line
16. Maybe You Will Change Your Mind
17. I'm Gone, Long Gone
18. Drifting With The Tide
19. Tennessee Cut-Up Breakdown
20. Crazy Finger Blues
21. Tennessee Breakdown
22. He's Coming Back To Earth Again
23. I Can Hear The Angels Singing
24. My Mother's Bible
25. Please Don't Feel Sorry For Me
26. I Could Cry
27. Springtime In Dear Old Dixie
28. Choking The Strings

Tracks:

1. Mountain Church
2. Love Call Waltz
3. I'm The Talk Of The Town
4. Always Be Kind To Your Mother
5. Since I've Used My Bible For A Road Map
6. I'm Building A Mansion In Heaven
7. My Shepherd Is God
8. Tree Of Life
9. Springtime In Heaven
10. Tally-Ho
11. Emotions
12. Your Tears Are Just Interest On The Loan
13. All I Have Is Just A Memory
14. Someone Will Love Me In Heaven
15. Limehouse Blues
16. Dixie Breakdown
17. Barefoot Nellie
18. Cruel Love
19. I'm The Biggest Liar In Town
20. It's Grand To Have Someone To Love You
21. Let's Live For Tonight
22. Old Home Place
23. Trail Of Sorrow
24. Charlotte Breakdown
25. How I Miss My Darling Mother
26. Family Altar
27. Jesus Is Waiting
28. I'm So Happy
29. Hen Scratchin' Stomp

Tracks:

1. Double Banjo Blues
2. Reno Ride
3. Banjo Riff
4. Banjo Signal
5. Mack's Hoedown
6. Jesus Answers My Prayers
7. Get Behind Me Satan
8. Home Sweet Home
9. Green Mountain Hop
10. If It Takes Me A Lifetime
11. Country Boy Rock N' Roll
12. I Know You're Married
13. No Longer A Sweetheart Of Mine
14. Forgotten Men
15. Never Get To Hold You In My Arms Anymore
16. Kneel Down
17. Cumberland Gap
18. Remington Ride
19. Beer Barrel Polka
20. Richmond Ruckus
21. When You And I Were Young, Maggie
22. Unwanted Love
23. Better Luck Next Time
24. Wall Around Your Heart
25. Another Day
26. Banjo Special
27. Country Latin Special
28. Get Ready
29. Keep Me Humble

Tracks:

1. Brighter Mansion Over There
2. He Will Forgive You
3. Missile RIde
4. Buggy Ride
5. I Want To Know
6. The New Jerusalem
7. He's Not Ashamed Of You
8. God's Record Book Of Life
9. Pray
10. Passing Of Time
11. I'll Trade My Cross For A Crown
12. Sailing Home
13. Pretending
14. I Wouldn't Change You If I Could
15. Little Rock Getaway
16. Sockeye
17. Under Your Spell Again
18. Money, Marbles, And Chalk
19. Dark As A Dungeon
20. Freight Train Boogie
21. Gathering Flowers From The Hillside
22. East Bound Freight Train
23. Charlie Brooks And Nellie Adair
24. Lonesome Wind Blues
25. Mountain Rosa Lee
26. She Has Forgotten
27. Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die
28. Eight More Miles To Louisville
29. I'm Blue And Lonesome

Amazon.com essential recording

This four-disc set compiles the seminal bluegrass duo's recordings for King Records--eight years' worth of smooth harmonies, consistently inventive songwriting, and Don Reno's electrifying musicianship on the five-string banjo. The Early Years includes some beautiful gospel numbers from their first King LP, including "The Lord's Last Supper" and the well-known "I'm Using My Bible for a Road Map." Other highlights are classic Reno and Smiley numbers like "I'm the Talk of the Town," "Dixie Breakdown," and "I Know You're Married (But I Love You Still)." A comprehensive document of one of the genre's most influential groups captured at the height of their powers, this album is a must for anyone interested in the formative early years of bluegrass.

Customer Reviews:

The true pioneers of traditional bluegrass.......2003-10-05

Mention Reno & Smiley today, and few people will know who you are talking about. In the annals of traditional bluegrass music, though, only Bill Monroe ranks higher in terms of importance and influence. This collection of Reno & Smiley songs from the 1950s is bluegrass at its best, showcasing a wide variety of styles and songs sure to get your foot stomping and your mouth grinning. Don Reno is as good and innovative a banjo player as you will ever find, and Red Smiley was no slouch himself on rhythm guitar. Reno is most famous as the unsurpassed master of the 5-string banjo. Throw in some vintage fiddle and other old-time bluegrass accompaniment and you have a band that actually surpassed the greatness of the legendary Flat & Scruggs in my opinion.

The story of how these two country boys from the Carolinas met and eventually joined forces is quite interesting in and of itself. Reno, for example, played with Bill Monroe (replacing Earl Scruggs) in 1948, but it was not until 1951 that Reno & Smiley began cutting records together, branching themselves off to become the Tennessee Cut-Ups. Gigs were scarce, though, and the band soon split up. Early in 1952, the duo recorded a number of songs together, and the success they met with enabled them to keep recording but not to actually perform together. For three years, Reno actively played with another band, while Smiley worked as a mechanic. Finally, in early 1955, the duo began actively performing together, and the rest is a big chapter in bluegrass history.

These four CDs contain just about any kind of traditional bluegrass music you could ever want to hear. There are no bad songs to be found here whatsoever, but some of my personal favorites are I Know You're Married (But I Love You Still), All I Have is Just a Memory, Let's Live For Tonight, and I Wouldn't Change You if I Could, but there are plenty of recognizable tracks also thrown into the mix. Reno's falsetto stylings are particular poignant alongside Smiley's resonant tones in songs about loss and love. The duo's best work, though, may well be their gospel recordings, of which there are many scattered amongst this collection: I'm Using My Bible For a Roadmap, When I Safely Reach That Other Shore, Springtime in Heaven, Get Behind Me Satan, New Jerusalem; I could go on and on. If you love bluegrass instrumental jams, those too are here in abundance; the boys flat-out wear their hands out on amazing cuts such as Choking the Strings, Dixie Breakdown, Charlotte Breakdown, and Remington Ride.

Reno & Smiley stand at the heart of bluegrass music, and while their names may have been forgotten in the public consciousness, their influence can still be felt in bluegrass today. If you think the immortal Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs are the only true pioneers of bluegrass music, then you need to listen to Reno & Smiley.

Vintage Bluegrass from a couple of masters........1999-06-01

In his lamentably out of print book, Bluegrass, author Bob Artis describes how Don Reno auditioned for Bill Monroe one day in Spartanburg, SC during World War II. Monroe was so impressed with the young banjo player that he immediately offered him a job. Unfortunately, Reno had already enlisted in the army and was just waiting to take his physical. Monroe eventually hired another banjo player by the name of Earl Scruggs and the rest is history. When he returned from the war, Reno set out to prove that he wasn't just another Earl Scruggs imitator and he eventually became the unofficial father of Progressive Bluegrass.

This four CD set contains almost all of Reno and Smiley's recorded output during the 1950s. There is a little bit of everything in this set, from gospel music to sizzling instrumentals. Not all of it is great but much of it is. My own personal favorites are the songs at the end of the last disc where Reno trades his banjo for a Martin guitar. Not really Bluegrass, but the Martin is great, and it's the kind of country music that you just don't get to hear any more.

Two Bluegrass Legends at Their Best.......1999-01-03

This 4-CD collection is the recorded product (1951-9 for King Records) of one of Bluegrass music's greatest bands during the prime of two careers. Red Smiley sang lead and played rhythm guitar that you could keep time to. Don Reno sang the lead or tenor parts. His flat picking guitar was truly among the very best ever, then and now, in country music; and his unique single note style of banjo playing was the envy of others - and rarely duplicated, especially to any real measure of ability.

Only partially highlighting this box set are five of Reno and Smiley's greatest hits: "I'm Using My Bible For A Roadmap;" "Emotions," "Maybe You Will Change Your Mind;" "I Wouldn't Change You If I Could;" and "I Know You're Married But I Love You Still" (written in recognition of the anquish felt by one of his band members).

Reno and Smiley's instrumentals were as much as part of the group's fame and many became classics. "Charlotte Breakdown;" "Remington Ride" (where Reno takes a steel guitar tune and turns in a virtuoso performance on banjo); "Tennessee Cutup Breakdown" and "Choking The Strings" among the beauties here. Reno takes some killer breaks on guitar on "Country Boy Rock and Roll." But if you want the true measure of Don Reno the instrumentalist, listen to "Home Sweet Home." He played every instrument, over-dubbing along the way. The rest of the band was late getting to the studio in Cincinatti and the session time had been paid for.

The Tennessee Cutups were almost exclusively the same unit throughout the band's history: Mac Magaha (fiddle), Don's son, teen-ager Ronnie Reno (mandolin) and John Palmer (string bass).

A must collection to enjoy and appreciate one of the great first generation Bluegrass bands.

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